What is Advance Care Planning, and do you have an Advance Care Directive in place?
Advance Care Planning is a way to think ahead and make sure your wishes are known if you ever become seriously unwell or injured and are unable to speak for yourself.
It gives you the opportunity to talk with the people you trust and record your values, beliefs, and preferences for future health care, which may include completing an Advance Care Directive. In Australia, this helps your family, substitute decision-makers and health professionals understand what matters to you, so they can make decisions that reflect your wishes.
Advance Care Planning can sometimes feel confusing, so we are providing clarity around common myths and misunderstandings below.
Myth versus Reality
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Myth |
Reality |
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Advance Care Planning is only for older people or people who are dying. |
It can benefit adults of any age. Serious illness or injury can happen unexpectedly, and planning ahead helps ensure care reflects the person’s values and preferences. |
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Talking about future care is morbid or means giving up hope. |
Advance Care Planning is about living well and making sure your voice is heard. It supports choice, dignity, and peace of mind for the person and their loved ones. |
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An Advance Care Directive (ACD) is only about refusing treatment. |
An ACD can include what matters to you, preferred outcomes, treatments you would accept or refuse, cultural, spiritual, or personal wishes, and who you trust to speak for them. You need to have capacity to write an ACD. If you do not have capacity, you and your family can write an Advance Care Plan. |
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You need a solicitor to complete an Advance Care Directive. |
Legal requirements vary across states and territories, but a solicitor is not always required. You can complete these documents with support from their GP, treating team or state-based resources. However, neither is necessary, your signature is what is important. |
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Advance Care Plan |
Captures your treatment preferences for a time when you might be unwell and unable to speak for yourself.
It records your wishes and should be discussed with your care team to help guide future care. |
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Once the document is completed, nothing else is needed. |
Advance Care Planning is an ongoing conversation. Documents should be reviewed when health, personal circumstances or preferences change, and copies should be shared with trusted people and uploaded to My Health Record where appropriate. |
How to get started
Think about what quality of life, comfort, dignity, independence, and relationships mean to you.
- Talk with family, close friends, your GP or treating health care team about your values and preferences.
- Choose a trusted substitute decision-maker or enduring guardian, depending on the requirements in your state or territory.
- Record your wishes in an Advance Care Directive or relevant state or territory document.
- Share copies with the people who may need them and consider uploading the document to My Health Record.
Useful Australian resources
- Advance Care Planning Australia: National information, forms, conversation guides, professional resources, and the National Advance Care Planning Advisory Service on 1300 208 582.
- Australian Government Department of Health, Disability and Ageing: Information on advance care planning, advance care directives, substitute decision-makers and uploading documents to My Health Record.
- myGov and My Health Record: Guidance on uploading advance care planning documents so they can be securely accessed when needed.
- NSW Health: Advance Care Planning information, including the NSW Advance Care Directive form and information booklet.
- NSW Trustee and Guardian: Information about appointing an enduring guardian and related legal considerations in NSW.
Advance Care Planning is a conversation about what matters most to you. Starting early gives you time to reflect, ask questions and make choices that can guide your future care with clarity and compassion. Is now the right time to start the conversation?